Everything You Want to Know!

Making Northwest Your Home

Northwest Missouri State University offers several living options to suit the needs of a diverse and active student body. In our residential communities, you can take full advantage of all that Northwest offers. You'll be close to your classes, the library, the Station and the Student Union. Not only is living on campus convenient, it also gives you the opportunity to become involved in organizations, clubs, sports, and activities - a major part of college life. In our residential communities, you'll feel right at home from the beginning!

About Our Staff

Residence life staff members are not "your parents away from home," but they are familiar faces - friendly, helpful, and approachable. Our staff is a mix of professionals and undergraduate students who can help you make the transition from home to university living and provide you with personal, social, and academic referrals.

Each floor has a resident/student assistant (RA/SA) who will acquaint you with community and university policies, as well as serve as a resource person; along with ARCHs (Academic Resource Consultant in Hall), Bridges (Building Relationships and Integrating Diverse Growth Experiences),PERTs (Peer Educator in Residence for Technology), and Desk Managers. Hall Directors, Complex Directors, and Area Coordinators are full-time live-in professionals who supervise an entire community. Our residence life team hosts educational programs each trimester and keeps you informed of issues and policies. Building community is what we're all about... come and be a part of our team!

Residence Hall Q&A

What are the room assignment procedures?

Students are housed in available accommodations on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are matched to roommates, communities, and living units by a computer software package designed especially for this process. Because this is a computerized process, it is very important that the data on Housing Agreement be thoroughly completed by the student. The data from this form will be analyzed to determine the best assignment "fit" based on your preferences, available space, and the date your Agreement was received. The following procedure will be used:

New residents (incoming freshmen, transfer, re-admits, continuing students not currently on campus, and those continuing students who fail to apply for a room during the special sign-up period) are assigned to the remaining spaces based on:

Date the completed Application/Agreement and prepayment are received through the Office of Residence Life.

Roommate preference. Requests must be mutual and received within a short time of each other. A mutual roommate request takes priority over all preferences.

Special interest/programs (Honors Program)

Preferences.

NOTE: If you fail to complete all the information, staff will assume that you have no preferences, and your assignment may reflect this.

How are roommates assigned?

The Office of Residence Life will make every attempt to honor mutual requests for specific individuals when possible. However, since the information from the Preference Sheet is self-reported, we cannot guarantee that the assigned roommate will be compatible. Accuracy is extremely important. Incomplete or incorrect Social Security numbers for yourself or your preferred roommate(s) can affect your roommate selection, resulting in students who mutually requested each other being assigned to different floors or halls.

Just a reminder: Roommate requests based on race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or major will not be considered. In the absence of a specific roommate request, the Residential Life staff will assign roommates without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

When will I know my room assignment?

Notices of room assignments for fall trimester are generally posted on-line in mid-July. New students moving into the halls for the spring trimester will receive their assignments approximately three weeks before the beginning of that trimester but may not learn who their roommate is until they check into their rooms.

When will I receive my roommate(s) information?

Your CatPAWS account will display your room assignment; your roommate and his/her contact information. You will receive an information packet with written notification on your room assignment. Changes to these assignments are minimal prior to the start of the trimester. New students entering into housing for the spring trimester may not learn who their roommates are until they check into their rooms.

Why didn't I get my room choices?

Assignments are made according to the receipt date of applications and the date full payment of the prepayment is received. If you didn't receive a hall of your choice, it may be because those halls were already filled with applications received before yours. You may complete a room change preference card (there will be a link on your room assignment page) to be placed on a waiting list for a preference not honored. The waiting list will remain active until move-in day. The waiting list will be deleted at that time. Room change week is the second week of classes. Students should then work through their Resident Assistant and Hall Director to express their interest in moving to a different room/location.

Can I have a room of my own?

Most singles are assigned to continuing residents through a priority system held early in the spring trimester. Demand usually exceeds supply. Indication of a request for a single room on the Agreement does not guarantee the request will be granted. The limited number of single rooms that become available are offered to upper class students on the waiting list. Freshmen are not assigned to private rooms for their first year.

Can I move in early?

Students will need to follow the move-in schedule that is sent out by Admissions for Advantage week. If special circumstances exist, you must submit a request in writing to the Residential Life Office. If approved, arrangements will be made to allow for an early move-in of belongings only.